Artusi — Restaurant in London

A War Reporter's Account of Artuzi: The Italian Gastronomic Oasis

Date: June 10, 1917 Location: Artuzi, an Italian Restaurant

As the tumultuous echoes of war engulfed the nearby streets, I sought refuge in an oasis of Italian cuisine known as Artuzi. Nestled amidst the chaos, this culinary haven promised respite for my weary soul. Equipped with a pen and a palate yearning for satisfaction, I embarked on a gastronomic adventure, armed only with my observations and a thirst for culinary enlightenment.

Upon entering the establishment, I was greeted by an air of warmth and familiarity. Sunlight poured through the windows, casting a golden hue upon the patrons as they indulged in hearty Italian fare. In the midst of this quaint atmosphere, I found solace and prepared myself for the culinary journey that awaited me.

Opting for a glass of Gavi, a crisp white wine known for its refreshing qualities, I allowed its cool embrace to wash away the weariness of the battlefront. The wine, like a gentle zephyr, danced upon my palate, whispering tales of distant vineyards and sun-drenched orchards. It offered a respite from the heat of the summer, a temporary ceasefire in the relentless battle against dehydration.

Alas, the first taste of battle arrived in the form of a plate of pesto and split pea pasta. As I ventured forth, I found the dish to be somewhat lacking in seasoning, failing to reach the crescendo of flavors that my battle-hardened taste buds craved. The pesto, though vibrant in color, lacked the robustness required to fully conquer my palate. Nevertheless, I soldiered on, confident that the subsequent course would prove more victorious.

Taking refuge in a glass of Nebbiolo, a noble red wine with its crimson hues reminiscent of bloodshed, I braced myself for the arrival of a dish that promised redemption. The pasta with beef ragu proved to be a worthy adversary, the rich and robust sauce enveloping the tender strands of pasta like battle-worn soldiers finding solace in each other's embrace. Here, the seasoning sang triumphantly, its flavors merging in a symphony of satisfaction that swept me away, if only momentarily, from the battlefield outside.

Yet, amidst this culinary strife, there was one constant source of pleasure—sitting in the sun. As I sat bathed in its warm embrace, the world outside seemed to fade away, and for a fleeting moment, the horrors of war were a distant memory. The golden rays kissed my face, bestowing upon me a semblance of tranquility in an otherwise turbulent world. In this moment, I understood the profound power of simple pleasures, of basking in the sunlight as if it were a beacon of hope in the midst of darkness.

To quench my thirst, I summoned a mighty bottle of sparkling water, a testament to the perseverance and resilience of the human spirit. As the effervescent bubbles danced upon my tongue, they carried with them a sense of rejuvenation, a reminder that even amidst the chaos, life's simplest pleasures can provide relief.

In conclusion, Artuzi, despite its occasional missteps, offers solace to weary souls seeking refuge from the storm of war. Its ambiance, bathed in sunlight and infused with the spirit of Italian hospitality, provides a sanctuary for those yearning for respite. Though some dishes may falter, there are victories to be found, particularly in the form of the pasta with beef ragu. And in the midst of it all, the enduring joy of sitting in the sun and the refreshing embrace of sparkling water are beacons of hope that remind us of life's enduring beauty, even in the...

We just had a quite a bad experience at this place. We had lunch after arriving at 12.05pm and the service was quite slow, which wasn’t a problem in itself but while having pudding the waitress already arrived with the bill saying we would have to leave the table in 10 minutes since our 2 hrs time slot was nearly over. Waiting time between dishes about 35 minutes. Please note, when I called to make the booking and also when I tried to do a test booking there was no mention of the table just being booked for 2hrs. The website also states that the place is open between 12-2.30 on Saturdays which wouldn’t allow for a second booking at 2pm. So we ate our pudding quickly (not a good experience) and when asking to have a coffee 6 minutes into the 10 minutes we were told that wasn’t possible. The manager of the day also told me that they mention the 2 hrs booking time on their website (not true) and that it is also communicated during the booking procedure (also not true). In fact, I had called to make the booking and was emailed a link to add my credit card details and on the confirmation email there isn’t any reference to “finish your lunch within 2 hrs and then we’ll kick you out”. I called later that day to tell them and the manager said I couldn’t see it on the test booking because they had changed the booking system a few days earlier (hahahah). Just another attempt to gaslight a customer. Must be great to work in a team with such nice colleagues that tell lies instead of attempting to save a situation. I will definitely avoid this place in the future and quite a few friends who have been customers and live in the area will also avoid it...

This niche Italian place is located amongst other foodie places in Peckham. There was a set menu for the weekend, with two options for each course, costing £20 per head. Risotto or pigs tail for starters. Pesto spaghetti or bavette and potatoes for the mains. Chocolate ice cream or polenta cake for dessert.

I had the pigs tail to start with which came in a crispy coating with apple mustard and was pleasantly surprised with the tasty dish. I was actually expecting to see curly tails on the plate! Spaghetti for mains was a bit disappointing. It came a bit too al dente for me, but staff were eager to please and replaced it as quickly as they could. The replacement was only slightly better. I rarely eat pasta out so I'm no expert and rather than make a fuss and have my friends wait again, I accepted it. Dessert however, made up for the mains. The polenta cake with crumble was better than expected and was complimented by the cheese cream which accompanied it.

Wheelchair access: There is a small step down to get in and they had accessible toilets, but it was quite narrow and I was not able to turn in my wheelchair. A wider chair could fit in, only moving forward and backwards though.

I would like to give this place another chance and try the a la carte menu during the week. Staff were apologetic and replaced my dish without a hassle (I almost felt like bad...